Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, 219 Biobehavioral Health Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
Department of Nutritional Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, 110 Chandlee Laboratory, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
Appetite. 2021 Jul 1;162:105148. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2021.105148. Epub 2021 Feb 5.
Dark green vegetables (DGVs; e.g., spinach) are a nutrient rich source of essential vitamins and minerals; yet, children's intakes of DGVs fall well below dietary recommendations and creative solutions are needed. This study describes preschoolers (3-5 y) willingness to taste, liking, and intake of fruit-based smoothies containing DGVs (i.e., spinach, collards, kale), commonly referred to as "green smoothies," and explores individual differences in children's eating responses. Using a between-subjects design, preschoolers were randomized to either a FRUIT ONLY smoothie condition (n = 36) or FRUIT+DGV smoothie condition (n = 32). Children's acceptance and intake were collected in one tasting session and one ad libitum snack session, respectively. Parents reported on child food pickiness, food responsiveness, and approach, and children's intake of fruits and DGVs. Children self-reported on previous experience with the study fruits and DGVs. The initial tasting session revealed that the majority of children (84.3%) in the FRUIT+DGV condition willingly tasted all five green smoothies and rated the green smoothies as moderately liked (2.3 ± 0.1). Children in the FRUIT+DGV condition consumed 225.7 ± 31.4 g (9.0 ± 1.3 oz; 1.1 ± 0.2 cups; 91.9 ± 12.9 kcals) of their most preferred green smoothie, providing 18.3 ± 3.7 g (or 0.7 ± 0.1 cups) of DGVs. Children's willingness to try, liking, and intake did not differ by smoothie condition. Individual differences in children's intake are reported. In conclusion, children were willing to try fruit smoothies supplemented with DGVs. Children rated the green smoothies as moderately-liked and children's intake during snack met 31% of their weekly USDA recommendations for DGVs. Adding DGVs to fruit-based smoothies may compliment other effective feeding strategies for increasing children's vegetable consumption.
深绿色蔬菜（DGVs；例如菠菜）是富含必需维生素和矿物质的营养来源；然而，儿童对 DGVs 的摄入量远低于饮食建议，因此需要创造性的解决方案。本研究描述了学龄前儿童（3-5 岁）对含有 DGVs（即菠菜、羽衣甘蓝、羽衣甘蓝）的水果冰沙的品尝意愿、喜好和摄入量，通常称为“绿色冰沙”，并探讨了儿童饮食反应的个体差异。使用 2 个组间设计，将学龄前儿童随机分配到仅水果冰沙条件（n=36）或水果+DGV 冰沙条件（n=32）。在一次品尝会议和一次随意小吃会议中分别收集了儿童的接受度和摄入量。家长报告了儿童的挑食、食物反应和进食方式，以及儿童对水果和 DGVs 的摄入量。儿童自我报告了他们之前对研究水果和 DGVs 的体验。在初始品尝会议中，FRUIT+DGV 条件下的大多数儿童（84.3%）愿意品尝所有五种绿色冰沙，并将绿色冰沙评为中等喜欢（2.3±0.1）。在 FRUIT+DGV 条件下的儿童消费了 225.7±31.4g（9.0±1.3oz；1.1±0.2 杯；91.9±12.9kcal）他们最喜欢的绿色冰沙，提供了 18.3±3.7g（或 0.7±0.1 杯）的 DGVs。儿童的尝试意愿、喜好和摄入量不因冰沙条件而异。报告了儿童摄入量的个体差异。总之，儿童愿意尝试添加 DGVs 的水果冰沙。儿童对绿色冰沙的评价为中等喜欢，而儿童在小吃时的摄入量满足了 USDA 对 DGVs 的每周推荐摄入量的 31%。在水果基冰沙中添加 DGVs 可能会补充其他增加儿童蔬菜摄入量的有效喂养策略。
